Tornado victims get priority on storm shelter grants

JACKSON, MS (WLBT) - As Mississippians pick up the pieces from deadly tornadoes, folks across the state are now wondering how to protect themselves in the future. State leaders say what's always a safe bet is a safe room or storm shelter.

Womack says there's often a spike in safe room construction after a disaster like recent tornadoes. To help with the cost, a hazard mitigation grant program, through federal dollars, can help homeowners with up to 75 percent of the construction cost. Since 2003, the program has helped fund more than 6,000 safe rooms and storm shelters across the state.

"It's very unlikely that you would ever have any damage to the safe room or the individuals inside of it," said Womack.

However, that program is currently unavailable to just anyone.

"We want to make sure that the families that had homes destroyed by the recent tornadoes are given the opportunity to apply for the grants first," said Womack.

From there, if any money is left, the general public would then be allowed to apply, which Womack says is still months away. The grant process takes anywhere from two to three months and Womack says there simply won't be enough grant money to go around. That's another reason Womack says not to wait.

"If you're building a new home, go ahead and build your own safe room. You're going to be a lot better off, because there's no guarantee that you'll qualify for a grant anyway," said Womack.

It's a grant which by federal regulations is not retroactive for anyone who makes room for a room.

A bridge on County Road 12 in Jasper County deemed unsafe by the federal government has already been closed. Photo credit WDAM.

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Bridges in Jasper County will remain closed after the Chancery Court of The First Judicial District denied its petition for injunction relief to reopen bridges that were closed by the federal government.

The organization predicted 10 to 16 tropical systems, with five to nine becoming hurricanes. One to four of those hurricanes is predicted to develop into major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or above.

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The cast of "Selma The Musical: The Untold Stories" performed a song for Mississippi native Robin Roberts on the Good Morning America after show Monday and will appear on a live segment of the show on Thursday. (Photo source: Jana Paige Haynes)

A Hattiesburg theater group is in New York this week to perform their independent musical at the National Black Theater. The cast of "Selma The Musical: The Untold Stories" performed a song for Mississippi native Robin Roberts on the Good Morning America after show Monday and will appear on a segment of the show on Thursday. Robin Roberts Writer, producer and director Jana Paige Haynes said the experience in New York has been amaz...

A Hattiesburg theater group is in New York this week to perform their independent musical at the National Black Theater. The cast of "Selma The Musical: The Untold Stories" performed a song for Mississippi native Robin Roberts on the Good Morning America after show Monday and will appear on a segment of the show on Thursday. Robin Roberts Writer, producer and director Jana Paige Haynes said the experience in New York has been amaz...

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The Golden Eagles will conclude spring drills at noon Saturday with the annual Black and Gold Game at M.M. Roberts Stadium.

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Weather issues have re-arranged the schedule of the 2018 Conference USA Baseball Championship at MGM Park. With four, separate lightning delays pushing Wednesday’s games back by more than 6 ½ hours, only one game of the four scheduled was completed.